Profile of the Day: The Wright Brothers

Happy Wright Brothers’ Day! On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, made history by making the world’s first sustained, man-powered, heavier-than-air flight.

Image: The Wright Brothers / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive

The brothers were two of seven children born to Milton Wright, a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and Susan Catherine Koerner. From a young age, they were encouraged to pursue their intellectual interests and creativity. Before devoting themselves to flight, the brothers capitalized on the national “bicycle craze” and opened their own bike repair and sales shop in 1892. The success of their business would later help to fund their aeronautical experiments in their pursuit of developing the first successful airplane.

Finally on December 17, 1903, the brothers brought their aircraft, the Wright Flyer, to test at Kitty Hawk. With Orville as the pilot, the aircraft took flight and stayed in the air for 12 seconds. It traveled for 120 feet before landing. 

Explore the family tree of Orville and Wilbur Wright and share how you’re connected to the aviation pioneers.
 

View Orville Wright’s and Wilbur Wright’s Geni Profiles